Animate It!

What parents need to know

Educational value

Kids will learn that it not only takes creativity to make a movie, but time and commitment as well. They'll learn how to use a webcam and how to tell a story in a few short minutes (each second of film requires 12 photo frames!). If they're working with friends or siblings on a film, kids can learn teamwork and how to delegate tasks (one kid runs the camera while the other moves an action figure, etc). Animate It! is a fun way for kids to learn movie making and storytelling skills.

Positive messages

Animate It! gives kids a lot of power: they'll be making their very own movie. The website encourages creativity and makes a pretty technical process fun; kids will feel a huge sense of pride when they watch the completed product.

Violence

Not applicable

Sex

Not applicable

Language

Not applicable

Consumerism

You can download a 14-day trial of Animate It! for free, but there are two payment tiers if you want to purchase the full product. There's also an area where you have the option to peruse recommended products by sponsor HP, but it's not pushy.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Not applicable

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Animate It! is downloadable software for Mac and PC (with supporting website) for creating stop-motion movies using a webcam. The software costs £20 UK or around $30. Backed by the UK's famous Aardman Studios (makers of the Wallace & Gromit series and Chicken Run), Animate It! guides kids through the sometimes tedious but ultimately rewarding process of animation.

User reviews

Parents say

Kids say

What's it about?

Animate It! gives kids the tools to make their own stop-motion animation in the Aardman Studios style. Kids need a computer with a webcam to use Animate It!, but beyond that, the program gives kids the ability to edit and add effects to the animations they create. Kids download the application to their computer's hard drive. The Animate It! website offers kid-friendly and charming video tutorials to walk kids through various filming processes and techniques.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

For kids who are interested in making movies but don't know how or where to begin, Animate It! is perfect. It's detailed without being overwhelming, and kids will love the tutorial videos and finding their own inspiration. Like any large-scale art project, kids will get out of Animate It! what they put into it, but with a little time, they will be able to complete a full "film" that they'll be proud to share.

Families can talk about...

Families can talk about the patience and commitment it takes to make a movie from start to finish. How long do you think it takes to make a movie? Do you know that sometimes it can take weeks to film just one scene?

Families can also discuss the elements of a story: setting, character, and plot. What makes a good story? What kinds of characters make for an interesting tale?

Why is it helpful to write a script or storyboard for your movie? Did you ever try to complete a project without planning it out first? Were you happy with the results?

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About Our Rating System

The age displayed for each title is the minimum one for which it's developmentally appropriate. We recently updated all of our reviews to show only this age, rather than the multi-color "slider." Get more information about our ratings.

Animate-It is pure gold!

I teach stop-motion animation in public school. I've tried other animation softwares but Animate-It is by far the best for easy-of-use and dependability. My students range from grade one through high school. They run the program and action. It is a delight to hear even my first graders debate shooting on twos or threes. I highly recommend this program.

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